You can add Rachel McAdams to the list of celebrity gals we know we'd be best friends with if we met in real life. (Though that might interfere with our whole Marry Ryan Gosling Master Plan ... )

Deftly pulling off a retro-inspired bombshell look in a knotted Western shirt by Mavi paired with floral Dolce & Gabbana bloomers, Glamour's February cover star is refreshingly down to earth when it comes to matters of beauty.

Arriving for her interview with her hair in 12 mini buns ready to be blown dry ("This is not for public viewing ... All my friends make fun of me and call me Helga or Heidi," she admits), the rom-com girl next door reveals an adventurous beauty streak.

"I wanted to do my whole head, but my hairstylist, Robert, was like, 'How about we start small?' I absolutely loved it. I still think about doing blue at some point, but I don't like to change my hair before I'm about to do [a film]—you never know what that character's going to be."

Photo courtesy of Glamour

Want some pasta with your Prada?

The actress is equally detail-oriented when it comes to fleshing out a character's wardrobe. Even, gasp, if it means nixing designer labels.

"I love those preliminary conversations about who a character is," she says.

"You try on wigs, shoes, and clothes. It's preferable when it's not about looking pretty. It can get a little dull to just be cute. We talk about things like, maybe my character can't afford these Christian Louboutins. [The stylist] will say, 'No one will notice.' And I'm like, 'Everyone knows that red-bottom shoe!'"

But of course. And though she clearly knows her luxury heels, the Toronto native isn't above admitting to a less-than-lustrous style move as a young figure skater.

"I definitely was in the sequined, bedazzled era," she says. "We would put blue eyeshadow up our eyebrows, and glitter all over our faces. I probably put more effort into my skating outfits than my clothes."

It's no wonder the blonde beauty landed Gosling, her ex-boyfriend and love interest in The Notebook. Calling news of Gosling's "feminist icon" status "great," McAdams clears up rumors about her tendency to date costars, including current beau Michael Sheen.

"A set may seem like a good place for romance, but I don’t think it’s very conducive; it’s too distracting," she says.

"Every relationship I’ve had with a coworker has come after the fact, because you wind up actually spending a lot of time with those people promoting the movie."

If only our workplace was as steamy ...

Photo courtesy of Glamour

Playing coy, McAdams keeps it brief in Louis Vuitton.

For more Rachel McAdams, visit Glamour online and pick up the February issue, on sale January 10.